America interference in India’s elections: Alan Musk’s announcement

Agency:News18hi

Last Updated:February 17, 2025, 10:01 IST

Us Aid India: Under the leadership of billionaire Alan Musk, the US government cut several grants including $ 2.1 million to ‘increase voter participation in elections in India’. BJP called it ‘external intervention’. it …Read more

The US had given money to increase voter turnouts in India. (Reuter/AP)

New York: Was America intervening in India’s elections? This question has become very important today. Because the US Government Executive Department, led by billionaire Alan Musk, has announced a series of spectacles in the expenditure in expenditure, including US $ 2.1 million (Rs 1.82 crore) allocated to ‘increase voters’ participation in elections’. The question is how America spent money to increase voting in the world’s largest democracy. US President Donald Trump last month elected Musk as the head of the new Government Executive Department (DOGE). In order to improve the governance and ban on extravagance, the department on Saturday announced this cut in a post on ‘X’. The department said, “American taxpayers’ money was to be spent on the following items, all of which have been canceled….”

The list included a grant of US $ 48.6 million to the ‘Group for Election and Political Procedure Strengthening’, including $ 2.2 million for ‘inclusive and participant political process’ in Moldova and ‘increase the participation of voters in elections in India’ 2.1 million US dollars were included. No more information was given about funding in the post. Reacting to this, senior BJP leader Amit Malviya termed this grant as ‘external intervention’ in India’s elections. He questioned who is the beneficiary, and said that it is not definitely not the ruling party ‘.

PM announced deduction after PM Modi’s visit
The head of the BJP’s IT department said in a post on ‘X’, ‘US $ 2.1 million to increase the participation of voters in the election? This is definitely external interference in India’s election process. Who will benefit from this? Certainly not the ruling party! ‘ He claimed that this program now canceled the Congress -led Prophet (United Progressive Alliance) Government, which allegedly helped the forces working against India’s interests to infiltrate Indian institutions into Indian institutions. .

This development related to grant cuts took place a few days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to America, during which he spoke to President Donald Trump as well as Musk. ‘SpaceX’ CEO Musk met Prime Minister Modi with his family. Both discussed opportunities in space, technology and energy sector.

Money also sent to Bangladesh and Nepal

In its post, the US department ‘allocation of US $ 2.9 million to’ strengthen the political scenario in Bangladesh, as well as $ 2 crore for ‘fiscal federalism’ in Nepal and 1.9 crore for ‘biodiversity conservation’ there. It also announced to cancel the allocation of US dollar. It cut a million US dollar grant for ‘Mozambic Voluntary Medical Men’s circumcision’, 23 lakh US dollars for ‘strengthening independent voice in Cambodia’, 3 million US dollars to Prague Civil Society Center, ‘Gender Equality And announced a reduction in US $ four million for the Women’s Empowerment Center and $ 1.4 million as well as other expenditure for ‘improve public procurement’ in Serbia. It also includes US $ 4.7 million for ‘Improving learning results in Asia’.

According to ABC News report, on 7 February, ‘USAD’ (American agency for international development), all its human works have been stopped worldwide. The agency’s website was closed before the announcement of Musk. Later, a judge nominated by Trump announced a temporary prohibitory order order that prevents the President and the department from sending 2,200 employees on administrative leave.

(With agency input.)